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A general catalogue of 6.7GHz methanol masers II: statistical analysis

Michele R. Pestalozzi·A. Chrysostomou·J. Collett·V. Minier·J. Conway·R. Booth
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Abstract

Context: Methanol masers at 6.7GHz are recognised markers of high-mass star formation regions. The study of their distribution in the Galaxy gives important insights into the star formation activity of the Milky Way. We present a statistical analysis on the General Catalogue of 6.7GHz methanol masers in the Galaxy with the aim of extracting global properties of the masers. Aims: We provide constraints on the luminosity function of 6.7GHz methanol masers and on their total number in the Galaxy. Methods: We model the spatial distribution of the masers in the Milky Way by using their distribution in galactocentric distance which is unambiguous once a rotation curve for the Galaxy is assumed. This is the starting point for determining the luminosity function of the masers. Results: The luminosity function of 6.7GHz methanol masers is modelled as a power-law with sharp cutoffs and having an index lying between -1.5 and -2. We also predict the number of detections of methanol masers assuming different sensitivity limits in the observations.

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Michele R. Pestalozzi, A. Chrysostomou, J. Collett, V. Minier, J. Conway, R. Booth. 2006-12-05. A general catalogue of 6.7GHz methanol masers II: statistical analysis. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361%3A20065876

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